30 Day Challenge

Images are from: money4thisnot4that.com, gogingham.com and money4mother.com Tomorrow is September 1st and for anyone like me who is a teacher or a parent with kids going back to school, this really is the start of a NEW YEAR. Soooo, with the start of a NEW YEAR comes NEW HABITS. New SPENDING habits. I am starting a 30 day No Spending Challenge. 30 days with no EXTRA purchases. No trips to the consignment shop for myself or the girls. No trips to Goodwill. I am limiting myself to the following: 1. Groceries 2. Gas 3. Bills (do I have to?) 4. A small gift for a birthday party we are going to in a few weeks. I am simply going to take it day to day. This is a must because even though I have gone back to teaching, BOTH of my girls are in school this year so expenses have increased. I am wondering if anyone else is doing a similar challenge?

Shabbychic Decor and Words from a 4yr old

Big Sis has gotten a few Shabby chic items added to her room this summer. I found the hot pink table at a thrift shop and I love the glass knob on it. So of course, I had to find matching knobs at Target and changed all of the knobs on her drawers! Next, I found matching Shabbychic lamps at another antique store for Big Sis and Little Sis' rooms! I love them! And Lil Sis is growing up fast! She is getting a big girl bed so I found this sweet Shabbychic quilt and sham for her new bed! I wanted to share with you a song Big Sis just made up and sang to me: I love God! I love God! I love God! He never changes His mind! I love God! I love God! I love God! He is true! Makes me so proud!

Dreamy Whites Giveaway

All images are from Dreamy White's blog I am super excited about this giveaway ladies! Maria from Dreamy Whites is offering a $300 gift certificate to her online shop! I have been following Maria' blog from the beginning. I literally drool over photography. Her home is beautiful and the items she sells in her shop are gorgeous. I have actually had my eyes on her Petite Christmas stockings since last year thinking they would make a really cute Advent Calendar for my girls! The deadline for the giveaway is August 25th. I have really been all about nesting this summer and making my home a sanctuary for me and my family. Because of this I have really been studying blogs and Pinterest for ideas and scouring local thrift shops to find items at a frugal price!

A Life Lesson

A while back I decided to visit the sponsors on Lemonade Makin' mama's blog. One of these sponsors is Gifts for the Heart International. This organization is dedicated to providing joy to needy children worldwide through one simple act~the simple gift of a stuffed animal. This simple gesture really made me stop and REFLECT on my own life. My own little sheltered world. Now don't get me wrong, as my blog indicates I am FRUGAL partly becaus I enjoy the thrill of the hunt and partly because of my financial situation. Yet my girls and I pray every night thanking God for our food, our shelter and our family. Many of my girls toys come from thrift and consignment shops, yet they still have more than their basic needs. In fact, Big Sis has an addiction to stuffed animals. Which of course Lil Sis wants too. Which leads me to want to DONATE an entire bag full of their stuffed animals. But the important part is the LESSON of COMPASSION that this momma will be teaching her girls.

New Jeanne Oliver e-course

After spending a long weekend visiting our friends' beautiful new home in Connecticut, my husband and I came home and have been trying to figure out what home improvement projects we can do that won't break the budget. But it certainly can be OVERWHELMING with so many ideas on blogs, in magazines and on pinterest. So I was excited when I saw that Jeanne Oliver is teaming up with a group of amazing ladies to offer an online home decor e-course which starts on October 22nd. And the best part? Between you and me is offeing not ONE but TWO free spots in the class if you visit her blog before Saturday, August 4th.